Islamic Emirate of Abyan

The Islamic Emirate of Abyan (2011-2012) was an Islamic emirate with its capital at Zinjibar. The Aden-Abyan Islamic Army was the armed wing of the emirate, and it was allied to Ansar al-Sharia, Al-Shabaab, and other armed militant groups in the country. It fell to a Yemeni Army counteroffensive in 2012.

History
The Islamic Emirate of Abyan was declared on 31 March 2011 after Muslim militias conquered Abyan Governorate from the government of Yemen during the Sa'dah War. Al-Qaeda declared the governorate an emirate, although its inhabitants were not members of al-Qaeda. They declared sharia law, saying that women appearing in public had to be escorted by a male relative who carried an ID or a passport to identify himself as her family. The Islamic Emirate of Abyan was recaptured by the government in 2012 during the Abyan Offensive.